Their responsibilities extend beyond daily posting and content creation. They are brought in to offer a fresh take on a brand’s social presence, tackle ongoing challenges, and provide direction. Consultants work on both long-term projects, like brand building, and short-term projects, like campaign launches.
Audit and assess current social media strategy: One of the first tasks on a new contract is evaluating the company’s existing social media presence, analyzing content, engagement metrics, and follower growth to identify improvement areas.
Develop custom social media strategies: Based on the audit’s outcome, consultants will create a tailored social media plan that aligns with the business’s goals. This may involve suggesting new content types, targeting different audience segments, or focusing on specific platforms.
Provide expert guidance on platform selection: Not every platform works for every business. Social media consultants help companies determine
the most effective platforms for reaching their target audience and advise on optimizing content accordingly.
Train teams and improve processes: Many consultants offer workshops or training sessions to teach in-house teams about best practices, content planning, and social media tools. This empowers businesses to manage their social media effectively after the consultant’s contract ends.
Monitor performance and adjust strategy: Consultants track the success of implemented strategies, reviewing analytics to ensure goals are met. They make data-driven recommendations to fine-tune a brand’s social media strategy.
What skills do you need to be a social media consultant?
Social media consultants need a mix of creative, technical, and strategic skills. They excel at analyzing data, solving problems, and developing innovative strategies. They also need strong people skills since they are constantly interfacing with clients or networking for new opportunities.
Many consultants have been content creators, social media coordinators, strategists, or managers in their past.
Some skills you’ll need as a social media consultant are:
